Bowman provides an Automatic Position Location, Navigation and Reporting system which gives Situational Awareness to units throughout the digitised structure. The friendly forces picture can be configured to update unit and vehicle positions automatically. The tactical picture is shown on map displays on a variety of purpose-built data terminals – handheld, portable, vehicle or desk mounted. Key armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) are fitted with specialised equipments tailored to each vehicle type to facilitate use of the APLNR capability in the specific environment of an AFV.

The Common Battlefield Applications Toolset (ComBAT) provides the main C2 interfaces for users of the Bowman system. This provides mechanisms for messaging, reports and returns. Battle Management capabilities include support for planning functions.

APACHE - BOWMAN CONNECTIVITY (ABC)

ABC is an addition to the Bowman programme which provides secure voice and data communications between the British Army’s attack helicopter and its related land-based operational units.

General Dynamics UK’s solution delivers this additional capability through an innovative mechanism, saving the MOD hundreds of millions of pounds, by adapting some of the Bowman Network Access Units to provide an integrated communications network with previously under-utilised facilities within

BOWMAN IN SERVICE

12 Mechanised Brigade was the first brigade to be converted to Bowman and successfully completed a six month operational tour in Iraq – OP TELIC 6 – in November 2005. 7 Armoured Brigade followed on OP TELIC 7, taking its Bowman-equipped Warriors and Challenger 2 tanks. Bowman has received favourable reports from the User on operations. Conversion of the 3 Commando Brigade and its supporting Amphibious Task Group is complete and Littoral ISD has been declared.

The Royal Signals is playing a major role in the introduction into service of Bowman. The programme involves conversion of up to 15,700 land vehicles, 141 naval vessels, and 60 helicopters (mainly Chinook and Merlin), with training for some 75,000 service personnel. Contracts worth £2.4 billion were placed with General Dynamics UK, in 2001 for Bowman and in 2002 for the Combat Infrastructure Programme (CIP). Around 45,000 Personal Role Radios, 47,000 manpack and vehicle radios, and 26,000 computer terminals are being acquired.

The system is being designed to provide, in conjunction with Ptarmigan, Cormorant, and in time (probably from about 2011 onward) Falcon, integrated digital communications network across the whole battlefield.